Early Literacy Calendars Available

St. Louis County Library is all about early literacy for our youngsters! We provide lots of tips during our lap times and story times but there is a lot that you can do at home. To help with that, we have created a monthly calendar with ideas of what you can do at home to encourage learning. 

You can pick up a copy at a branch story time or you can download it at your home. Check back each month for new fun!

--Desiree S., Headquarters

Kids Music Friday: "I'm a Little Fish" by Laura Doherty

Need a little swim to brighten your day? Strap on some fins and join these adorable sea creatures as Laura Doherty sings "I'm a Little Fish." Keep your eyes open for the banjo-playing octopus!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Dewey Discoveries: "Mission: Wolf Rescue" by Kitson Jzynka with Daniel Raven-Ellison

Wolves are beautiful animals with a complex social structure that scientists have been studying for years. "Mission: Wolf Rescue" by Kitson Jazynka is packed full of facts about wolves, ideas for getting involved in conservation, and the gorgeous photographs that National Geographic is famous for. Check it out for the young scientist in your house by clicking on the link above.

Dewey Number: 599.773

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Staff Review: "Bluebird" by Lindsey Yankey

In the face of beauty, sometimes words aren't enough. I know that's a bit ironic of me to say, since I have to use my words to tell you about "Bluebird" by Lindsey Yankey, a picture book so lovely that words fail me. Which means you'll just have to check it out and experience it for yourself!

The plot centers around a little painted bluebird who wants to fly, but can't find his friend, the wind, to help him out. So he hunts and hunts for his friend in its favorite haunts, but all for naught. In the end, the bluebird discovers that his friend has been waiting for him to learn to fly on his own. It's a nice little story, but the mixed media illustrations of a quaint European town and people going about their daily lives in rich detail steal the show. Ms. Yankey did such a smashing job that I'd like to crawl inside her book and stay for a day or two. This story is wonderful for anyone age three and up, and you can reserve a copy by clicking on the link above.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

American Girl Beforever Series

American Girl's newest series makes YOU the main character!  Imagine if you could go back in time Julie.  Or you were transported back to the Great Depression with the young journalist, Kit.  The Beforever books are a choose your own adventure story with the historic girls at a faster pace than the other titles.  You decide if you give Samantha a bike riding lesson or give her a friendship bracelet.  It's similar to the Innerstar University books, but it isn't set in present-day.  Don't worry about making choices because you can go back and reread them and choose differently again and again!
to 1970s San Francisco with big dreamer
This week on Project Runway, on Lifetime, there will be a special American Girl challenge featuring the fresh, new Beforever dolls.  You can tune in to see what the professionals think these girls should be wearing.  Maybe it will even inspire you to design your own clothes like the 2014 Girl of the Year, Isabelle.

If you like American Girl books, you might also like these:

--Angie RH, Headquarters

Ivy and Bean Author to Visit SLCL

We are excited that one of our favorite authors is coming to the library!  Annie Barrows, the author of Ivy and Bean books, will be at the Daniel Boone branch on Saturday, September 20th. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. with doors opening at 5:00 p.m.

"Magic in the Mix" is the sequel to "The Magic Half" in which the time-traveling twins Molly and Miri are off on an adventure to the Civil War where they race against the clock to save two unusual soldiers. Brimming with lovable characters, this long-awaited sequel will bring a whole new batch of readers to Annie Barrows' wonderfully popular world of twin-inspired magic.

"The Magic Half" Eleven-year-old Miri Gill feels left out in her family, which has two sets of twins and her, until she travels back in time to 1935 and discovers Molly, her own lost twin, and brings her to the present day.           





We would love to see you there!


--Desiree S., Headquarters
          

Kids Music Friday: "The Bossy E" by Mister G

Nobody pushes around letters in the alphabet like the letter "E"! See just how bossy that E is in this fun animated video by Mister G called "The Bossy E." Check out the new CD too!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Book Trailer: "Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza: Delivery of Doom" by Dan Yaccarino

Do you like outer space, aliens, or pizza? Do you like to laugh? Then check out Dan Yaccarino's debut middle grade book, "Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza: Delivery of Doom." Check out the book trailer below and reserve your copy today!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Complimentary Passes to "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"

Want to be one of the first to see the brand new movie  "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" Here is your chance!

SLCL is pleased to share this opportunity for you to go to a special advance screening of this movie scheduled for Saturday, Sept 20^th, 10:00am at Wehrenberg’s Des Peres 14 Cine.  The movie is rated PG and opens across the country on October 10.

CLICK HERE to download free passes. Good while supplies last.

Haven't read the book yet? Click here to check it out!

--Desiree S., Headquarters

Superstition Mountain Series by Elise Broach

Elise Broach has written some great books that you should not miss! 

"Missing on Superstition Mountain" --Mr. and Mrs. Barker and their sons, Henry, Simon, and Jack, along with their cat Josie, have moved from Chicago to a very remote area of Arizona. There really isn't much to do and the boys are quite bored until the day Josie runs off into the Superstition Mountain range, an area the boys are forbidden to enter. The boys are forbidden to enter the mountain as many explorers went missing or have been found dead in the canyons of Superstition. But what are three boys to do when their beloved cat runs off and won’t come when called? The boys go up the mountain and find danger, excitement, adventure, perhaps ghosts and, oh yes, three skulls. This is a must read for anyone that likes mystery and adventure. 

"Treasure on Superstition Mountain" Henry, Simon, Jack Barker and their new friend Delilah investigate the suspicious deaths and disappearances of adventurers looking for gold in the Superstition Mountain. They question locals, encounter a bizarre and mysterious librarian, come across a graveyard where many that are buried have the same names of people that are alive and well, and they visit a ghost town where one nearly comes to a dreadful end. When they get all the facts available, the foursome travel back into the Superstition Mountain range to search for answers and gold, but they are not the only ones on the mountain.Book 2 is another page turner that you won’t be able to put down until the end and then you will be itching to get your hands on "Revenge of Superstition Mountain."

Check out other books by this great author in our catalog.




Mary G., Grand Glaize 

Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is great for an outdoor activity.  The only limit is your imagination.  Sidewalk chalk inexpensive: usually available at the dollar store.  Try getting the chalk wet for an entirely new experience.  Or try one of these recipes are more chalky textured fun:

Ice Chalk

Equal parts cornstarch and water

A few drops of food coloring or paint (optional)

Pour into ice cube trays.  Freeze a few hours or overnight.

Spray Chalk

½ cup cornstarch

1 cup hot water

1 tsp. tempera paint

1 squirt dishwashing soap

Mix well and pour into spray bottles.

Chalk Paint

Equal parts water and cornstarch

Food coloring or paint

Mix well.

Foam Chalk Paint

Powdered paint or crushed up chalk

Shaving cream

Mix well.

3D Chalk Paint

½ cup cornstarch

2 tbsp of flour

¼ cup of water

Food coloring or paint

Mix well and pour into squeeze bottles.

Look at all the fun we had playing with chalk at the library!

 Check out one of these fun books about chalk:

--Angie RH, Headquarters

Dewey Discoveries: "Costume Parties" by Jen Jones

Throwing parties is fun and exciting, but it can be hard to know where to begin.  "Costume Parties" by Jen Jones is perfect for a first time party-thrower.  It starts with suggestions on getting started and has a timeline to guide you through planning. There's a handy chart to help you keep track for budget. It has great ideas for cute and fun theme snacks, beverages, and decorations.  Of course, no party is over until it's cleaned up.  You can use the checklist in the back to help you get your party space back to normal.  This book is good for students in 3rd to 5th grade.

If costumes aren't your thing, check out the authors other books in this series: "Game Night Parties", "Accessory Parties" and "Pampering Parties."

Dewey number 793.1 Jones Jen

--Angie RH, Headquarters